Tropical Storm Erick forms in eastern Pacific

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Erick, the fifth named storm of the season, has formed in the eastern Pacific.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said a tropical storm warning was in effect on the southwestern Mexican coast Thursday night from Lazaro Cardenas to Manzanillo. A watch was in effect for Acapulco to east of Lazaro Cardenas and from west of Manzanillo to La Fortuna.

Erick was centered 140 miles (225 kms) south of Acapulco. It was moving toward the northwest near 12 mph (19 kph) and had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph).

Following the forecast track, the center of Erick is expected to move parallel to the southwestern Mexico coast but remain offshore.

Meanwhile, former Hurricane Dalila weakened to a tropical depression in the eastern Pacific late Thursday.